Suspender-clasp for waistbands.



W. B. FOX.

SUSPENDEB. CLASP FOR WAISTBANDS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1011.

1,055,627, Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

Fig.5. /2 WITNESSES: IIVVENTOR fic mwvzwwza Jffiaredfiraz 1 3m UNITED STATES PATENT @FETCE.

WILLOUGHBY BERESFORD FOX, OF VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA.

SUSPE-NDER-CLASP FOR WAISTBANDS.

To all "whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLOUGHBY BERES- ada. residing at Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, Canada, have invented a new and useful Suspender-Clasp for \Vaistbands, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a clasp for securing the divided end of the shoulder brace of a suspender to the waist band of the trousers, and is designed to dispense with the buttons in common use for such a purpose and to provide instead a fastening by means of which the double end of each shoulder brace may be secured or released by a single simple movement.

The invention is particularly described in the following specification, reference being made to the drawings by which it is accompanied, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are front and end views respectively of the device in the clasped position. Figs. 8 and 4C are similar views in the unclasped position, and Fig. 5 is a cross section of the clasp securing lever on an enlarged scale.

In these drawings 2 represents a broad shallow member forming the back of the clasp, the upper edge of which member is bent outward, as at 3, and is provided with a hinge 4 to receive a front clasping member 5, the contour of which corresponds to that of the back. The back member 2 has at each upper corner rings or loops 6 for the attachment of the divided ends of the shoulder brace. At each end of the back member 2 are apertures 8 into which project members 9 of the front portion. The waist band of the trouser is designed to be gripped between the hinged members 2 and 5 and a secure hold is afforded by the projections 9 engaging the edges of the apertures 8. The end portions of plate 2 are formed somewhat as hoo {S to receive the waist band tape of the underwear in order to sustain them, the hook end being recurved somewhat as shown to guard the end of it and prevent it catching in the garments.

On the pin of the hinge 4 is a coiled spring 11 one end of which is in engage ment with the back member and the other with the front so that the spring will tend to hold the front member in the unclasped position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4:.

The members 2 and 5 are designed to be Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 12, 1911.

Patented Mar. 11,1913.

Serial No. 632,564.

clasped tightly together by hand against the light resistance offered the spring 11, the fingers applied immediately over the apertures S and the projections 9. When so clasped together they will be automatically secured in that position by a short securing lever 12 pivotally mounted on the upper edge 3 of the back member 2 and susceptible of turning down across the front of the front member. This securing lever has a normal tendency to turn. into this securing position by a coiled spring 13 on the pivot pin of the lever between its beaing in 3. The seat upon which the securing lever 12 engages the front face of 5 is stamped or molded to offer an incline 1 1 terminating in a stop 15 and the outer surface of the lever is inclined to offer a finger engaging surface to release, which surface is ridged or serrated.

The device is exceedingly simple to manufacture either in cast or stamped metal and is susceptible of'ornamentation to suit the taste or requirements of the wearer. It offers a wide gripping surface between the positive grip of the ends so that the pull is not definitely localized, as is the case with buttons and the strain on the material is therefore less severe. It must be noted that the pressure of closing the grip is not imposed upon the lever 12 but is imparted direct to the clasping members by the fingers and thumbs, the duty of the lever 12 being merely to automatically secure the members 2 and 5 in the clasped position when they have been tightly brought together. Owing to the inclined seat 1i of the securing lever 12 it frees itself at once when pressure is applied to turn it back to effect release, and when so turned the clasping members open at once under the influence of the hinge spring 11 to release the waist band.

The device is not dependent on engaging points for its hold so that no injury can be imposed on the garment to which it is applied.

Having now particularly described my invention and the manner of its use, I hereby declare that what I claim as new and desire to be protected in by Letters Patent is:

1. A clasp of the class described, comprising elongated back and front clasping members hinged together along their upper edges, one of said members formed at each end as a hook, each hook inclosing an aperture, the second of said members provided at each end with a projection, said projections adapted to enter said apertures, a spring holding said clasping members normally in the unclasped position, means for securing said clasping members in the closed position when pressed together, and means at each end for connecting the divided ends of a shoulder brace to the clasp.

2. A clasp of the class described, comprising elongated back and front clasping members hinged together along one of their longer sides the back member being at each end formed as a hook the entrance to which is at the upper part of the end, the front member having a projection at each end that will enter the space formed by the bend of the hook of the back member, a spring tending to hold these n'lembers in the tin-- clasped position, a retaining lever pivotally mounted. in the upper edge of the back member and susceptible of being moved downward in a plane parallel to that of the back member, a spring tending to turn the retaining lever into the clasped position and means for securing the divided end of a Suspender brace to each end of the clasp.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witl'iesses.

W. BERESFORD FOX.

Witnesses ROWLAND BRITTAIN, WM. S. SOUTAR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

